Taking place across Brisbane this October-November, Melt is the annual open-access festival transforming the city into one of Australia’s most vibrant destinations for queer arts and culture. There are more than 100 events across more than 70 venues, in a city-wide programme spanning landmark public art, world premieres, headline concerts, spectacular river celebrations, and powerful new queer storytelling.
“We’re thrilled to be adding these new elements to an already vibrant Melt programme and giving audiences even more ways to experience the festival,” Brisbane Powerhouse CEO/Artistic Director Louise Bezzina says. “From music and performance to playful public art, parties and community moments, there’s something wonderfully unexpected around every corner. Melt is a celebration of queer arts, culture and community, and we can’t wait to see Brisbane come alive with even more colour, energy and joy this October and November.”
Joining the festivities is a tribute to one of pop culture’s most beloved icons, Dolly Parton, with ‘Dolly Hoe-Down’. It’s hosted by the reigning queen of Queensland’s drag scene, Vollie LaVont, and presented by Brisbane Powerhouse and Harry K.
Dressing up is strongly encouraged, as the event transforms the Powerhouse Theatre into a joyful celebration of the songs, style and enduring cultural influence of an icon.
Fresh from the release of her second album ‘Desire Is An Angel’, Asha Jefferies will join the Melt programme for a special performance, bringing her intimate, emotionally-charged sound to the festival as part of her album tour. Meanwhile, over at Queen Street Mall, Melt’s playful Onesie World will get a competitive makeover with ‘Stitch, Please: The Ultimate Sewdown’. Here, Internationally acclaimed artist Adele Varcoe will go head-to-head with sewing superstar Gayleen Tuckwood, in a high-speed, high-stakes onesie-making showdown.
Making history will be Surf Life Saving Queensland, joining this year’s River Pride Parade with at least three boats forming part of the flotilla on the Brisbane River, marking the first participation of a major Queensland sporting organisation in the parade.
“We’re so proud to see sport represented in the 2026 River Pride Parade,” Pride In Sport National Program Manager Ben Cork says. “Sport is an integral part of many LGBTQIA+ people’s lives, offering connection, community and a powerful sense of belonging. We commend Surf Life Saving Queensland for leading the way as the first sporting organisation to participate, standing proudly alongside LGBTQIA+ communities and helping ensure Queensland’s beaches are safe, welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”
Plus – the locations for one of Melt’s biggest spectacles, Florentijn Hofman’s Rubber Duck, are here. It will appear outside Brisbane Powerhouse on 21 October, before it joins the River Pride Parade on 24 October, and returns ‘home’ to Brisbane Powerhouse until 8 November.
More information.
Brisbane’s Melt Festival is on from 21 October-8 November.
